The Brew SiteAdvent Beer Calendar 2009: Day 7: Shiner Holiday Cheer
In Texas, Shiner Bock is a beery institution, the long-brewed (since 1913) flagship beer from the 100-year-old Spoetzl Brewery located (appropriately enough) in the town of Shiner. For a brewery that’s been producing beers for nearly 100 years (interrupted only by Prohibition, of course), Spoetzl had not brewed a holiday beer… until last year, that is.
Shiner Holiday Cheer was introduced in 2008, and replaced their former seasonal Dunkelweizen. In fact, it’s their Dunkel with a little something special added (emphasis mine):
Happy Holidays from the “Little Brewery” in Shiner, TX. We hope you enjoy your Shiner Cheer, an Old World Dunkelweizen brewed with Texas peaches and roasted pecans. The malty flavors of this dark wheat ale are enhanced through the use of malted barley and wheat. And Kräusening ensures a smoothness that makes the subtle peach and pecan flavors all the more satisfying. May your days be merry and bright and your Shiner be cold. Prosit!
Holiday beer with a Southern twist: the peaches from the Texas Hill Country are supposed to be among the best in the world. And who doesn’t like pecans?
Shiner Holiday Cheer is 5.4% alcohol by volume and while you will likely drink some (or many) Christmastime beers brewed with fruit this season, I’ll wager the only one with peaches will be Shiner’s.
BeerAdvocate: B. RateBeer: 3.05/5, 50th percentile.
This was my favorite winter seasonal last year, hands down. This year I had a friend pick me up a case of it, which is waiting for me when I touch down in Houston for Christmas. Highly recommend. (I hear it’ll be replaced in January with another winter seasonal, Shiner Frost, with a hint of peppermint…)
The release of this brew has now become an event I look forward to. I have almost quit drinking beer, but not when this is available. I don’t know if you can buy it outside of Texas, but I thank my lucky stars I can.